The University’s award-winning Project SEARCH team hosted a successful collaborative event this week (Monday) with Drake Music Scotland .
Drake Music Scotland is a leading arts organisation which provides music making opportunities for people with disabilities with a view to transforming lives through the power of music.
The event was an opportunity for the current Project SEARCH Interns to welcome the new students who will be joining the initiative in September 2015 to the classroom in the King’s Pavilion. During the session, the Interns worked with consultant Abi Sinar to used cutting edge music technology, including Soundbeam and Skoog. They also started learning about chord progressions using Figurenotes (a colour based system) on chime bars and keyboards.
Andrew Thomson, Tutor on the programme from North East Scotland College explained: “This is the first time that the new Interns have come together as a group and so it was a fantastic teambuilding event. We are running a number of induction events over the summer ahead of them joining Project SEARCH in September so their year on the programme has got off to a great start”.
Heather Crabb, Employer Partner Co-ordinator for Project SEARCH within the University commented “I am delighted that Drake Music Scotland have been able to join with us on this collaborative venture and we are hoping that we will be able to work with them again in future. Today’s event was a tremendous success and highlights the value and benefits music can bring to those with additional needs.”
Drake Music Scotland developed out of the Drake Research Project founded in England by Adele Drake and since its establishment in 1997, Drake Music Scotland has worked with over 9000 children and adults with disabilities across Scotland to learn, compose and perform music independently.